Stephen Fleming's eighth one-day century ensured another day of humiliation for Bangladesh and projected New Zealand firmly towards the semi-finals, a position that ought to be sealed with a win over Ireland in their next match. The Kiwis' captain made 102 from 92 balls with three sixes and 10 fours as New Zealand, with 178 for one, overtook Bangladesh's paltry 174 with more than 20 overs in hand.

Following Saturday's 10-wicket hammering by Australia, Bangladesh's bowlers have managed just the single wicket of Peter Fulton in two matches. Fulton's dismissal, caught at mid-on for 15, was followed by an unbroken second-wicket stand of 134 in 20 overs between Fleming and Hamish Marshall, who reached his half-century with the last shot of the game, a huge hoik over mid-wicket.

So the Kiwis march on. Fleming has at his disposal an extremely versatile unit, constructed over the past year with great attention to detail. Yesterday they were able to cover adequately for the early loss of the seamer Michael Mason to a calf strain and later James Franklin too.

Somehow there is efficiency here without charisma, Shane Bond excepted, the best fast bowler in the tournament. They conform to the sort of old stereotype that still dogs German football teams. Perhaps it is the uniform, as bible-black as Dylan Thomas's Llareggub at night, which lends a puritanical air.

Unusually, Bangladesh had managed to reach the 17th over before losing a wicket, but while each of the first four batsmen got past 20, none reached 30. Although Scott Styris took four for 43 to enhance an already profitable tournament, it was Bond who caught the eye, returning for a second spell mid-innings and clipping the top of Saqibul Hasan's middle stump before sending a delivery to Mushfiqur Rahim that would have dislodged Bradman in his pomp. It was, as FS Trueman would have said, wasted on him.

Rafique's late 36-ball flurry prolonged the innings and the match. On the way, the left-handed Rafique belted Styris over long-on for six, and then smacked the same bowler over mid-wicket for another. Had there been a crowd to witness it, it would have scattered them.